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Hackett Creek Two Bedroom Home in Rhododendron

by Liz Warren

You'll love this Mt. Hood  getaway above Hackett Creek in Rhododendron. Perfect for full time living or vacation home on the mountain. Two bedrooms and two baths with two fireplaces! It's had a lot of recent updates including all new interior paint, new carpeting, updated counter tops, new toilets and sinks, new carport roof and more! $480.000

Mt. Hood Cedar Chalet above Hackett Creek in Rhododendron

     Vaulted Ceilings and Fireplace in this Hackett Creek Cedar Chalet       Hackett Creek getaway with Deck and .4 acres of land

Hackett Creek in Mt. Hood Villages near Rhododendron

What's the Future of the Mt. Hood Real Estate Market?

by Liz Warren

What Does the Rest of the Year Hold for the Housing Market?

What Does the Rest of the Year Hold for the Housing Market? | MyKCM
 

If you’re thinking of buying or selling a house, you’re at an exciting decision point. And anytime you make a big decision like that, one thing you should always consider is timing. So, what does the rest of the year hold for the housing market? Here’s what experts have to say.

The Number of Homes Available for Sale Is Likely To Grow

There are early signs housing inventory is starting to grow and experts say that should continue in the months ahead. According to Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com:

“The gap between this year’s homes for sale and last year’s is one-fifth the size that it was at the beginning of the year. The catch up is likely to continue, . . . This growth will mean more options for shoppers than they’ve had in a while, even though inventory continues to lag pre-pandemic normal.”

  • As a buyer, having more options is welcome news. Just remember, housing supply is still low, so be ready to act fast and put in your best offer up front.
  • As a seller, your house may soon face more competition when other sellers list their homes. But the good news is, if you’re also buying your next home, having more options to choose from should make that move-up process easier.

Mortgage Rates Will Likely Continue To Respond to Inflationary Pressures

Experts also agree inflation should continue to drive up mortgage rates, albeit more moderately. Odeta Kushi, Deputy Chief Economist at First Americansays:

“… ongoing inflationary pressure remains likely to push mortgage rates even higher in the months to come.”  

  • As a buyer, work with trusted real estate professionals, including your lender, so you can learn how rising mortgage rate environments impact your purchasing power. It may make sense to buy now before it costs more to do so, if you’re ready.
  • As a seller, rising mortgage rates are motivating some homeowners to make a move up sooner rather than later. If you’re planning to buy your next home, talk to a trusted real estate advisor to decide how to time your move.

Home Prices Are Projected To Continue To Climb

Home prices are forecast to keep appreciating because there are still fewer homes for sale than there are buyers in the market. That said, experts agree the pace of that appreciation should moderate – but home prices won’t fall. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), explains:

“Prices throughout the country have surged for the better part of two years, including in the first quarter of 2022. . . Given the extremely low inventory, we're unlikely to see price declines, but appreciation should slow in the coming months.” 

  • As a buyer, continued home price appreciation means it’ll cost you more to buy the longer you wait. But it also gives you peace of mind that, once you do buy a home, it will likely grow in value. That makes it historically a good investment and a strong hedge against inflation.
  • As a seller, price appreciation is great news for the value of your home. Again, lean on a professional to strike the right balance of the best conditions possible for both selling your house and buying your next one.

Bottom Line

Whether you’re a homebuyer or seller, you need to know what’s happening in the housing market, so you can make the most informed decision possible. Let’s connect to discuss your goals and what lies ahead, so you can pick your best time to make a move.

Custom Built Alaskan Knotty Cedar Two Bedroom Two Bath

by Liz Warren

Tucked away on a dead end street in Brightwood is this custom built gem of a home above the Sandy River. Two bedrooms and two baths plus den/office with bonus covered patio and hot tub. Low maintenance yard with steps to a path that takes you to your own park. The path takes you to the Sandy River  and unbelievable views of surrounding Cascade foothills. This home features rare Alaskan Knotty Cedar throughout the home. You'll never want to leave this great room with vaulted ceilings, skylights and tons of windows. The gourmet kitchen with gas stove looks over the living and dining room area. Hand storage and pantry area is right next to the kitchen. Big bonus is the over sized two car garage and pull down storage to stash your toys! $725,000

Great Room of Brightwood Custom home in Timberline Rim

Custom BuiltTwo Bedroom Two Bath Home Custom Built Alaskan Knotty Cedar Home Kitchen in Brightwood Oregon

June 4th Free Family Fishing Event on Mt. Hood!

by Liz Warren
 
Mt. Hood National Forest
Forest Service News Release
 
Free family fishing event June 4 east of Estacada
 
 
Join Mt. Hood National Forest for a day of fishing and family fun. This outdoor event will take place on Saturday, June 4 from 10:00- 3:00 at Small Fry Lake in Promontory Park, just east of Estacada. 
 
Fishing clinic participants can enjoy free fishing lessons, casting competitions, a contest for the largest fish, and other games. Loaner fishing poles and bait are available. Children 13 years and under must be accompanied by an adult. This is a great opportunity for families to learn how to fish together and spend time in the outdoors!
 
June 4-5 is a Free Fishing Weekend in Oregon, meaning no license or tag is necessary to fish these two days. For more information about state fishing licenses visit the OR Department of Fish and Wildlife.
 
Participants are encouraged to bring their own fishing gear if possible. Loaner fishing gear and bait will be available during the event. Please bring snacks and water and wear clothing appropriate for the weather. Bringing a cooler for hauling home your catch of the day is recommended.
 
This event is held in cooperation with the OR Department of Fish and Wildlife, PGE, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Trout Unlimited, and Timber Lake Job Corps.
 
 ###
 
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
 
 
Photo: Fishing clinic at Small Fry Lake at Promontory Park

 

Don’t Let Rising Inflation Delay Your Homeownership Plans INFOGRAPHIC] | MyKCM
 

Some Highlights

  • If recent headlines about rising inflation are making you wonder if it’s still a good time to buy, here’s what experts have to say.
  • Housing is an asset that typically grows in value. Plus, your mortgage helps stabilize your monthly housing costs, and buying protects you from rising rents.
  • Experts say owning a home is historically a good hedge against inflation. Let’s connect if you’re ready to start the homebuying process today.

Craftsman Style Zig Zag Riverfront Cabin

by Liz Warren

Caution, dream cabin just hit the market!

This is one of the larger cabins in the Mt. Hood National Forest on the Zig Zag River. Lots of craftsman touches and plenty of room for friends and family. Open great room with log accents. Floor to ceiling windows with lots of natural light. Three bedrooms, one bath with over 1400 square feet. Outstanding location on the Zig Zag River! Enjoy the outdoors on your huge deck!  $510,000

Zig Zag Riverfront Cabin With Soaring Fireplace

Mt. Hood Waterfront Cabin near Government Camp          Zig Zag River on Mt. Hood

Soaring Ceiling in this Craftsman Style Zig Zag Riverfront Cabin near Mt. Hood

        

The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession | MyKCM
 

A recession does not equal a housing crisis. That’s the one thing that every homeowner today needs to know. Everywhere you look, experts are warning we could be heading toward a recession, and if true, an economic slowdown doesn’t mean homes will lose value.

The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) defines a recession this way:

“A recession is a significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy, normally visible in production, employment, and other indicators. A recession begins when the economy reaches a peak of economic activity and ends when the economy reaches its trough. Between trough and peak, the economy is in an expansion.”

To help show that home prices don’t fall every time there’s a recession, take a look at the historical data. There have been six recessions in this country over the past four decades. As the graph below shows, looking at the recessions going all the way back to the 1980s, home prices appreciated four times and depreciated only two times. So, historically, there’s proof that when the economy slows down, it doesn’t mean home values will fall or depreciate.

The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession | MyKCM

The first occasion on the graph when home values depreciated was in the early 1990s when home prices dropped by less than 2%. It happened again during the housing crisis in 2008 when home values declined by almost 20%. Most people vividly remember the housing crisis in 2008 and think if we were to fall into a recession that we’d repeat what happened then. But this housing market isn’t a bubble that’s about to burst. The fundamentals are very different today than they were in 2008. So, we shouldn’t assume we’re heading down the same path.

Bottom Line

We’re not in a recession in this country, but if one is coming, it doesn’t mean homes will lose value. History proves a recession doesn’t equal a housing crisis.

National Wildfire Awareness Month

by Liz Warren

Although it's hard to believe as we sit under storm clouds and record breaking rain we are approaching our fire season on Mt. Hood. After power shut downs from past fires locals are way more prepared for what will come our way. I don't know any one who doesn't own a generator. This article from Fox 12 details new rules for power shut down notifications during wildfires. 

Here are tips directly from the FEMA website:

The United States Fire Administration promotes simple ways to prevent a fire from affecting your home and community, including:

  • Reduce amount of flammable materials and brush that can burn around your home by removing pine needles, dry leaves or other highly flammable materials.
  • Protect your roof: Trim branches that overhang your home and remove any leaves, needles, and sticks from your roof and gutters. 
  • Move wood piles and small propane tanks away from your (and your neighbor’s) home, 30 feet or more is best.
  • Embers from a burning fire can get under an unprotected porch or through vents. To prevent this, install a wire mesh screen with openings no larger than 1/8th inch.  

Be prepared in case you need to evacuate:

  • Keep important documents in a fireproof safe, on a USB drive, or store password protected documents online.
  • Check your home insurance to make sure your policy protects your current home value and includes wildfires.
  • Give yourself time and evacuate early if possible. If you can’t leave, designate a room that can be closed off from outside air in case air conditions become hazardous.
  • Make your household emergency plan and go-kit.  When making plans, don’t forget the needs of pets.  Make sure that you know more than one way out of your neighborhood.
  • Sign up to receive emergency alerts and notices for your community.
  • Ready.gov offers vital safety tips on what to do before, during, and after a wildfire.

Another important thing to consider is buying flood insurance. After a wildfire, flood risk increases due to the inability of charred vegetation and soil to absorb water. Rainstorms after a wildfire lead to increased runoff down slopes and into channels, streams, and rivers.  Flooding after fire can be fast, severe, and include mudflows as runoff picks up debris, ash, and sediment from the burn scar. Flood insurance can protect property owners from catastrophic financial impacts of flooding following a wildfire.

Wildfires can develop and spread quickly, leaving little time to get somewhere safe. Know what to do to keep yourself, your family, and your pets safe and take steps now to protect your future.

Last updated March 17, 2021

Mortgage Rates Impact on Your Mt. Hood Purchase

by Liz Warren

How Today’s Mortgage Rates Impact Your Mt. Hood  Purchase

How Today’s Mortgage Rates Impact Your Home Purchase | MyKCM
 

If you’re planning to buy a home, it’s critical to understand the relationship between mortgage rates and your purchasing power. Purchasing power is the amount of home you can afford to buy that’s within your financial reach. Mortgage rates directly impact the monthly payment you’ll have on the home you purchase. So, when rates rise, so does the monthly payment you’re able to lock in on your home loan. In a rising-rate environment like we’re in today, that could limit your future purchasing power.

Today, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is above 5%, and in the near term, experts say that’ll likely go up in the months ahead. You have the opportunity to get ahead of that increase if you buy now before that impacts your purchasing power.

Mortgage Rates Play a Large Role in Your Home Search

The chart below can help you understand the general relationship between mortgage rates and a typical monthly mortgage payment within a range of loan amounts. Let’s say your budget allows for a monthly mortgage payment in the $2,100-$2,200 range. The green in the chart indicates a payment within that range, while the red is a payment that exceeds it (see chart below):

How Today’s Mortgage Rates Impact Your Home Purchase | MyKCM

As the chart shows, you’re more likely to exceed your target payment range as mortgage rates increase unless you pursue a lower home loan amount. If you’re ready to buy a home, use this as your motivation to purchase now so you can get ahead of rising rates before you have to make the decision to decrease what you borrow in order to stay comfortably within your budget.

Work with Trusted Advisors To Know Your Budget and Make a Plan

It’s critical to keep your budget top of mind as you’re searching for a home. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com, puts it best, advising that buyers should:

Get preapproved with where rates are today, but also consider what would happen if rates were to go up, say another quarter of a point, . . . Know what that would do to your monthly costs and how comfortable you are with that, so that if rates do move higher, you already know how you need to adjust in response.”

No matter what, the best strategy is to work with your real estate advisor and a trusted lender to create a plan that takes rising mortgage rates into consideration. Together, you can look at your budget based on where rates are today and craft a strategy so you’re ready to adjust as rates change.

Bottom Line

Even small increases in mortgage rates can impact your purchasing power. If you’re in the process of buying a home, it’s more important than ever to have a strong plan. Let’s connect so you have a trusted real estate advisor and a lender on your side who can help you strategize to achieve your dream of homeownership this season.

Displaying blog entries 1-10 of 13

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Liz Warren
Merit Properties Group - Keller Williams Realty PDX Central
Box 131
Welches OR 97067
Direct: 503-705-3090